LindstrÝm

Smalhans

Pulling back from the progressive intricacies of Six Cups of Rebel, Norwegian producer Lindstrøm is all dance floor on Smalhans. The six-track album is dominated by arpeggiating synth lines, evoking a futuristic '80s disco sound that wouldn't sound out of place on a reincarnation of Miami Vice. Lindstrøm's music has always favoured melody over industrial technicality, and with Smalhans, he sticks to major-key movements. However, Lindstrøm produces an almost uniform timbral palette on Smalhans, using similar sharp saw and square oscillators on every track. This textural consistency works well for live applications, where big-room dancing is the music's primary function, but doesn't translate with the same level of excitement for at-home listening. The structural development of each number is much slower than Six Cups, though nowhere near the drawn-out lengths of his monstrous Where You Go I Go Too. Smalhans is an enjoyable listen, though it's creatively limited when compared to Lindstrøm's previous work, not providing much more to the listener than a feel-good album. (Smalltown Supersound)